guys i'm new to the airboat thing and need some guidance. i'm building 16x8 fib hulled boat. seating for 4 and primary use will be catching reds and some play from time to time. my choice for powerplant is an aluminum headed bb ford 514. i am figuring on trying to cam the motor so it runs out at 5000 rpms. i'm just wondering what box n prop i need. been told a 2.09 and 2.38, sen 82" 3 blade q and a wide water walker 82". i'm wanting to be able jump up on plane right away due to the rock we have around here. any help would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to Southern Airboat! Out of the over 1200 members here on Southern airboat... there's about four or five of us Ford lovers. Speak quietly my friend!
Give these guys a call, http://www.centurydrivesystemsinc.com/ I believe they will be the only ones who can help with the re-drive. When you talk to them... will you please ask them a question for me? Why haven't they gotten a belt drive made yet that I can bolt my 347 Ford stroker "Chebby" smoker to? I believe you will be stuck with the 2.3 belt drive for now.

Ford Power, PM Priority One. He has the same set up that you want to build. Alum. headed 514 Ford on a 15x8 Diamondback. He has run the boat with a 237:1 gearbox and a 268:1 with an 82in Sen superwide. Strong running boat. I am sure he can answer any questions that you might have.

thanks for the help so far guys this site has been awesome so far. i am so ignorant to airboating but have learned alot from ya'll very quickly.
cad, i don't have the motor yet but will be here i hope in 6-8 weeks. the reason for this build is due to the classic ford vers chevy. i've been told over and over that fords want hold up, so i guess i am gonna try it. i have rode in numerous friends boats with caddies and chevys for power plants and they all are awsome, but why settle for something you dont want. i came close to ordering a new boat with a 502 gm, but i have had many a big block ford that i have trashed for years playing in the mud, and i've watched all brands blow due to abused and plain ole building cheap junk.
i'm not here trying to convert anyone just proving that even an ole heavy ford will perform and last with the other brands.

Ford power. Dare to be different! A call to GTO (352 401 9070) would be beneficial to you. They have put alot of big Ford SHO motors on our gear boxes and even raced them. Your engine choice is on the heavy side but stout for sure! Our gear boxes way about half as much as a belt box and the prop turns the opposite direction of the engine for some torque cancellation. So you could save some weight there. The Stinger will handle all the power you can build (short of a top fuel dragster) with no problem! That being said. The 209 and 238 work good with your wide blades. i would go3 blade 80in and up. They have good snap and push hard. The super wides are quieter and pushes harder at a lower prop rpm. they work the best with 268 288 and 312. You may also have a better cruse speed. if your boat is plowing on its nose or is real heavy you may not realize the full benefit of either set up. Good luck with your torque monster build!

thanks cad, i'm currently leaning toward keith craft outta arkansas, my brother is trying to get me to try the kaase heads, he surely builds some awsome power, and i checked out your site, ya'll dont look to be to shabby ya'll selves. if i was going caddy i would surely holler at you.
mr. dan thanks for the info i surely will be in touch with ya to pick your head if you'll let me. thanks guys

I would check out Kaase new heads. They just had a piece on them in Hot Rodder mag. if I remember correctly.. stock bottom end 460 flat tops with a cam to support the heads pulled something like 650 ft/lbs torque @ 4800rpms Who cares about alittle extra weight when you are building a big sled

A friend of mine had a gto with the 460 svo crate motor and it was a great running boat,out run all the chevy boats around here.
as to the weight the engine weight charts I've looked at they list the big ford is a few pound lighter than the big chevy.

BB Fords are heavier then anything else just carry a block or crank once with those crazy main journals sizes and you will see. A BB Ford engine has some well designed advantages but they are very heavy!

THE PROOF IS IN THE PROP!

"If you copy someone you will only achieve what has already been done."

There are a couple of things we do to the boxes in conjunction with the adapter plate to make it all jive. If you don't use our adapter plate we would need to get the numbers on the other systems. It has got to be right and tight or it doesn't get built!

jerry thanks for the heads up, i too had friends try the svo crates a few yrs ago and they didn't hold up, due to poor internals, wrong cam selection and trying to do something it wasn't designed to do. but that was a few yrs ago things have come along ways and quality control has progressed leaps and bounds. just look at priority1 looks like his rig has it going on, and i have couple bb460 that have been pounded on pretty hard thats holding up. so we'll just have to see.

well guys got my box and prop. went with the stinger 2.68 wide gear soft drive and a 3 blade 80" falcon. rat and pop been work on the boat and hope to have motor within 2 weeks. soon as i do ill post pics and let ya'll know how its doing.